A few weeks ago, the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High varsity football team was riding high at 6-0 and thinking of a potential Tri-County Athletic League championship. Three straight losses later, the Bruins are just trying to regain their footing as the postseason approaches.

The Bruins (6-3, 1-3 TCAL) wrap up the regular season tonight when they host the Swett Warriors (6-3, 2-2 TCAL) at Dante Magnani Field. It’s the first meeting between the two teams since the opening round of the 2014 North Coast Section Division V playoffs, a game SPSV won 14-6 in Crockett.

SPSV hasn’t had much luck during its three-game losing streak. After getting pummeled by Salesian in a 34-7 loss three weeks ago, the Bruins were only a few yards from victory at St. Mary’s but turned the ball over late in a 30-27 loss. Last week at home against El Cerrito, the Bruins hurt themselves with five turnovers and allowed two kickoff returns for touchdowns in a 40-27 setback.

The Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive 32-7 victory over St. Mary’s last week. Swett has one of the stingiest defenses in the North Coast Section, allowing only 11 points per game. The Warriors haven’t allowed more than 21 points in any game this season. Senior linebacker Derrick Quesada has been a defensive force. His 107 tackles are twice as many as Swett’s second-leading tackler and he has 14 tackles for loss, including three sacks.

Swett’s Achilles heel has been its offense, which averaged only eight points during one three-game stretch before scoring 20 against Salesian and 32 against St. Mary’s. The Warriors don’t throw the ball much, with senior quarterback Kimiyante Bryant averaging only 11 passing attempts per game.

Senior running back Te-Vonta Johnson is Swett’s offensive workhorse, rushing for 689 yards on 96 carries with five TDs. Quesada is a decent fullback and senior Balewa Byrd is the team’s top receiver with 19 receptions and three TDs. SPSV’s offense is averaging 26 points per game in TCAL play but has allowed at least 30 points in each game during the losing streak.

The Bruins will count on senior quarterback Michael Pappas to move the offense, with Marquel Johnson, Kailon Johnson-Loud, and Marshel Martin each capable of breaking off big plays.

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